Tire with tread including circumferential grooves having generally sinusoidal contour

Abstract

Tire having a tread pattern with superior performance characteristics. The tread pattern includes ribs and circumferential grooves which are at least one of tapered and/or generally V-shaped. The walls of each circumferential groove have a wavy and/or sinusoidal contour extending in a generally circumferential direction.

1. A tire comprising a tread pattern having ribs and circumferential grooves which are at least one of tapered and generally V-shaped, wherein walls of each of the circumferential grooves have a generally sinusoidal contour extending in a generally circumferential direction, and wherein groove opening edges of each of the circumferential grooves have a generally sinusoidal configuration, and wherein at least one of the circumferential grooves comprises a generally sinusoidal groove base, a pitch length of the sinusoidal groove base being at least one of twice a pitch length of the sinusoidal configuration of at least one of the groove opening edges and greater than a pitch length of the generally sinusoidal configuration of at least one of the groove opening edges. 
   
   
     2. A tire comprising a tread pattern having ribs and circumferential grooves which are at least one of tapered and generally V-shaped, at least one of the circumferential grooves comprising a groove base having a wavy contour extending in a generally circumferential direction and first and second groove opening edges each having at least inwardly and outwardly curved portions, wherein the inwardly curved portions of the first groove opening edge are aligned circumferentially with outwardly curved portions of the second groove opening edge and wherein a pitch length of the groove base is approximately twice a pitch length of at least one of the first and second groove opening edges.